Deniz Undav
Deniz Undav is determined to make his mark at Brighton & Hove Albion when the Premier League restarts following the World Cup. The break from domestic action has given the 26-year-old a chance to consider his position at the club, having made just eight substitute appearances in the top flight so far. And the German striker says he is ready to fight and show exactly what he can do for the Seagulls.
Deniz Undav said: “It’s an opportunity for me to be even more ready than before and, if I get the chance, to play. It’s not the farmer’s league, it’s the best league in the world. I have to give everything now I know the league and maybe be even more ready than I was. In training, everyone is aggressive, really, really good. There’s no time to relax in training or take the foot off the gas, so that’s hard. The intensity is really, really hard. You have to get used to it at some point. Even when I’ve come on for a few minutes, it’s always hard against the defenders. When you come on you think you are ready, but they don’t care. They are 100 per cent ready. I may have to change my head, to work even harder. I think so far I’m disappointed, but I don’t give up just because I’m not playing that much. I’ll try to give everything for the team, so that if the coach picks me, I’ll be ready.”
Undav, who signed from Belgian side Royal Union Saint-Gilloise in January, has just 93 minutes of playing time under his belt in the Premier League so far, but started against Forest Green Rovers in the Carabao Cup second round and netted in a 3-0 win. And he says he is trying to remain positive as he seeks more chances for Roberto De Zerbi’s side.
Denis Undav added: “It’s hard for me, especially when you come from a season in Belgium playing every game. But it’s life, that’s football. I’m a little bit disappointed, but I just try to be positive, to work hard, to be there for my team-mates and when I maybe get the chance to start again to be ready. It’s now my third season as a professional really. I thought it would be hard [moving to the Premier League], but it’s even harder than that. If I’m not playing from the start in the first six months or year it’s nothing to be ashamed of. I’m trying to do something that’s really hard. From Belgium to the Premier League is like five, six levels higher.”
